Welcome

Aikido Eastside offers daily Aikido classes for adults and children providing Mind, Body, Spirit integration as well as effective self defense. A form of “moving mindfulness” , or moving meditation, Aikido focuses on connection and strives to allow one to defend without the necessity of seriously harming the attacker. The was art developed in the mid 20th century as a gift to all mankind by Master Morihei Ueshiba, whom practitioners call “O Sensei” or revered teacher.

Founded 1989 – Aikido Eastside is an internationally known training center for providing classes in Aikido, the Japanese martial art. A resource for the whole community of Aikido practitioners, our school offers regular Aikido seminars, workshops, and intensives designed to provide top quality training to Aikido practitioners regionally, nationally and even internationally with specialized focus areas which might not normally be available at their own dojos or nearby. Many of our events are specifically geared towards instructors wishing to work with other advanced practitioners to take their skills to a higher level.

Aikido practitioners of all levels have come from all over the US as well as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, and Finland to attend seminars at Aikido Eastside.

We conduct seminars on Traditional Aikido, Aikido weapons work, multiple attackers practice, internal power development, Daito Ryu Aikijutsu, Karate, and Systema. All of these seminars are open to the Aikido community regardless of style or affiliation.

The techniques of this art as taught to George Ledyard Sensei by his teacher Mitsugi Saotome Shihan focus on control and neutralization of an attack through harmonious movement and non-resistance. Since the unarmed techniques of Aikido originally derive from weapons techniques we train with the traditional weapons of sword and staff on a weekly basis. People train in Aikido for a number of reasons. It is a system of self defense and great exercise. In addition it is also a form of moving meditation with a strong spiritual underpinning and even serves as the model for various systems of conflict resolution. The emphasis on movement and redirection of force make Aikido the perfect martial art for those who are not physically large or powerful individuals.

Aikido training will develop a relaxed and centered manner when facing conflict. It is a martial art which focuses on personal development as much as physical self defense and should prove useful in the every day lives of the students in a multitude of ways.

Please come visit us at Aikido Eastside, located in Bellevue, WA near I-405 and I-90 with easy access from Issaquah, Mercer Island, New Castle, Sammamish, Renton and Seattle, or contact us with the form below.

[contact_bank form_id=2 show_title=false show_desc=false]

Aikido students of all affiliations are encouraged to visit at any time. Prospective students should come in and watch class and meet our instructors. Appointments are not necessary, just come on in.

Ueshiba Juku – calligraphy presented to select students of Mitsugi Saotome Sensei connoting a direct line of transmission from the Aikido Founder, Morihei Ueshiba

Two instructors at Aikido Eastside have the honor of being members of the Ueshiba Juku, George Ledyard and Josh Drachman. It is very rare for any school to have two such teachers.